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Star Wars Star Pilots
Wedge Antilles – hero, warrior, star pilot. The only rebel to face two Death Stars and live to tell the tale.
Wedge confronted death countless times, in battles large and small, where split-second decisions often meant the difference between survival and a fiery demise.
Now, he tells his story, and those of the brave pilots he served with and elite enemies he fought against. Aided by unsealed archives from the New Republic, and unreleased interviews of Imperial and Alliance veterans, Antilles gives the definitive account of what it was to fight the Galactic Civil War from the cockpit of a starfighter.
The ships, tactics, and weapons, but also the quiet times and camaraderie, the moments of fear and despair, the thrill of victory and the aching loss of friends. This is the untold story of the galaxy’s star pilots.
Wedge confronted death countless times, in battles large and small, where split-second decisions often meant the difference between survival and a fiery demise.
Now, he tells his story, and those of the brave pilots he served with and elite enemies he fought against. Aided by unsealed archives from the New Republic, and unreleased interviews of Imperial and Alliance veterans, Antilles gives the definitive account of what it was to fight the Galactic Civil War from the cockpit of a starfighter.
The ships, tactics, and weapons, but also the quiet times and camaraderie, the moments of fear and despair, the thrill of victory and the aching loss of friends. This is the untold story of the galaxy’s star pilots.
416 pages, Hardcover
Published October 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy
I really cannot emphasise how good this book is. No intention to spoil what a wonderful love story to starfighter life. The interviews really sell the personal cost of the conflict. Wedge is amazing, as is his footnote droid! Well done, sir!
October 6, 2026
From my Substack:
Jumping into the cockpit of an X-Wing and facing down a swarm of TIE fighters is just as thrilling and terrifying as you can imagine. That’s according to a new in-universe nonfiction book by Dr. Chris Kempshall featuring Wedge Antilles and other starfighter pilots of the Rebel Alliance (and a few from the Empire).
Star Wars: Star Pilots is part historical text, part memoir, and part long-form journalism, showcasing the experiences of pilots during the Galactic Civil War. Their stories are raw and real and relatable — at times exhilarating and inspiring; other times heartbreaking and horrifying. And perhaps most importantly, Star Pilots gives credit where it’s past due — to all the pilots, ground crews, and support staff who kept the starfighters, and the Alliance as a whole, flying.
Like Kempshall’s The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, Star Pilots is an in-universe text — something you’d read if you lived in the far away galaxy. The author’s expertise as a historian of our galaxy and the Star Wars one makes him an ideal storyteller to expand the lore and legacy of starfighter pilots.
The book is compiled and written by Wedge Antilles and is set shortly after the events of the Battle of Exegol (The Rise of Skywalker). Wedge tells us that after the end of the Galactic Civil War, there was going to be a museum exhibition honoring and celebrating the galaxy’s starfighter pilots. The heart of the exhibition was interviews with dozens of pilots — both Rebel and Imperial — about their experiences during the war. As funding for historical projects tends to do, the credits dried up, and the museum exhibition never happened. Decades later, Wedge decided it was past time to hear from these heroes.
All your favorites share their insight — from Wedge himself and other squadron aces to beloved characters like Hera Syndulla, Nien Nunb, and Wes Janson. Pilots from the books and comics are also well-represented, like Yrica Quell and Wyl Lark from Alphabet Squadron, Ganem Kahi from the TIE Fighter series, and Thane Kyrell from Lost Stars. It’s clear Kempshall’s Star Wars lore started with the EU, as many Legends pilots appear in this new canon book — Kasan Moor from the Rogue Squadron video game and Imperial ace Soontir Fel from the Rogue Squadron comic series are two notable inclusions.
Through the pilots’ insights and Wedge’s narration and commentary, the story of the Galactic Civil War comes to life in an entirely different way. You’ll never watch A New Hope the same way after reading Wedge’s recollections of the Death Star trench run and saving Luke Skywalker with the Antilles Maneuver. The terror of the Empire’s strike at the Rebels’ Hoth base is made a little lighter when you read Wes Janson’s and Thane Kyrell’s experiences taking down the AT-ATs with tow cables. And you’ll never watch the end of Return of the Jedi without thinking about TIE pilot Civé Rashon’s memories of watching high-ranking Imperial officers and ISB agents turn suicidal after the second Death Star was destroyed.
You’ll never watch any Star Wars the same way after reading Star Pilots. Period.
Star Pilots does an excellent job showcasing each pilot’s personality through their experiences during and after the war and their feelings about encountering former enemies. There’s pride in what they accomplished — both individually, as a squadron, and as part of the whole Alliance. There are fond memories of bonding with their squadmates and defying the odds over and over again. There’s trauma, certainly, and some pent-up rage against the Empire and even the New Republic government for not doing enough, in their eyes, to support and honor the Alliance military after the war ended.
But like any good Star Wars story, there’s plenty of hope amid the heartbreak and horror. As humble as he is, Wedge is the perfect pilot to honor everyone in the starfighter corps who suffered and sacrificed to bring light back to the galaxy. These pilots were not Jedi (well, one was), and many had no formal flight training. They had skill and passion and a strong desire to fight tyranny.
Star Pilots posits that every single one of them was a hero. Even if their proton torpedoes didn’t help take down a Death Star or hit five TIEs to become an ace. Their sacrifices, their service, their lives mattered and are worthy of celebration and remembrance.
With Star Pilots, Kempshall cements the importance of narrative nonfiction storytelling in Star Wars. Books like this and Rise and Fall make the galaxy feel closer and more tangible. Take out the fictional elements, and the events of Rise and Fall and Star Pilots could absolutely happen in our real world — years-long civil wars, rebellions against tyranny, and military culture and veterans’ issues are prevalent around our world. And what better way to explore and understand our societies’ cultures and issues than through Star Wars?
On a personal note, Kempshall continues to be a source of inspiration for me as a writer. He writes the types of books I hope to write someday — Star Wars, if you’re reading this, let me write a Corwi Selgrothe book 🫶
And with the success of Rise and Fall and Star Pilots (it’s a new release, but I know readers will love it), I’m confident that Star Wars publishing sees the value in, and reader desire for, more in-universe stories.
Oh, and if you’re a fan of Top Gun and the X-Wing books and comics, you’ll love Star Pilots.
Jumping into the cockpit of an X-Wing and facing down a swarm of TIE fighters is just as thrilling and terrifying as you can imagine. That’s according to a new in-universe nonfiction book by Dr. Chris Kempshall featuring Wedge Antilles and other starfighter pilots of the Rebel Alliance (and a few from the Empire).
Star Wars: Star Pilots is part historical text, part memoir, and part long-form journalism, showcasing the experiences of pilots during the Galactic Civil War. Their stories are raw and real and relatable — at times exhilarating and inspiring; other times heartbreaking and horrifying. And perhaps most importantly, Star Pilots gives credit where it’s past due — to all the pilots, ground crews, and support staff who kept the starfighters, and the Alliance as a whole, flying.
Like Kempshall’s The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, Star Pilots is an in-universe text — something you’d read if you lived in the far away galaxy. The author’s expertise as a historian of our galaxy and the Star Wars one makes him an ideal storyteller to expand the lore and legacy of starfighter pilots.
The book is compiled and written by Wedge Antilles and is set shortly after the events of the Battle of Exegol (The Rise of Skywalker). Wedge tells us that after the end of the Galactic Civil War, there was going to be a museum exhibition honoring and celebrating the galaxy’s starfighter pilots. The heart of the exhibition was interviews with dozens of pilots — both Rebel and Imperial — about their experiences during the war. As funding for historical projects tends to do, the credits dried up, and the museum exhibition never happened. Decades later, Wedge decided it was past time to hear from these heroes.
All your favorites share their insight — from Wedge himself and other squadron aces to beloved characters like Hera Syndulla, Nien Nunb, and Wes Janson. Pilots from the books and comics are also well-represented, like Yrica Quell and Wyl Lark from Alphabet Squadron, Ganem Kahi from the TIE Fighter series, and Thane Kyrell from Lost Stars. It’s clear Kempshall’s Star Wars lore started with the EU, as many Legends pilots appear in this new canon book — Kasan Moor from the Rogue Squadron video game and Imperial ace Soontir Fel from the Rogue Squadron comic series are two notable inclusions.
Through the pilots’ insights and Wedge’s narration and commentary, the story of the Galactic Civil War comes to life in an entirely different way. You’ll never watch A New Hope the same way after reading Wedge’s recollections of the Death Star trench run and saving Luke Skywalker with the Antilles Maneuver. The terror of the Empire’s strike at the Rebels’ Hoth base is made a little lighter when you read Wes Janson’s and Thane Kyrell’s experiences taking down the AT-ATs with tow cables. And you’ll never watch the end of Return of the Jedi without thinking about TIE pilot Civé Rashon’s memories of watching high-ranking Imperial officers and ISB agents turn suicidal after the second Death Star was destroyed.
You’ll never watch any Star Wars the same way after reading Star Pilots. Period.
Star Pilots does an excellent job showcasing each pilot’s personality through their experiences during and after the war and their feelings about encountering former enemies. There’s pride in what they accomplished — both individually, as a squadron, and as part of the whole Alliance. There are fond memories of bonding with their squadmates and defying the odds over and over again. There’s trauma, certainly, and some pent-up rage against the Empire and even the New Republic government for not doing enough, in their eyes, to support and honor the Alliance military after the war ended.
But like any good Star Wars story, there’s plenty of hope amid the heartbreak and horror. As humble as he is, Wedge is the perfect pilot to honor everyone in the starfighter corps who suffered and sacrificed to bring light back to the galaxy. These pilots were not Jedi (well, one was), and many had no formal flight training. They had skill and passion and a strong desire to fight tyranny.
Star Pilots posits that every single one of them was a hero. Even if their proton torpedoes didn’t help take down a Death Star or hit five TIEs to become an ace. Their sacrifices, their service, their lives mattered and are worthy of celebration and remembrance.
With Star Pilots, Kempshall cements the importance of narrative nonfiction storytelling in Star Wars. Books like this and Rise and Fall make the galaxy feel closer and more tangible. Take out the fictional elements, and the events of Rise and Fall and Star Pilots could absolutely happen in our real world — years-long civil wars, rebellions against tyranny, and military culture and veterans’ issues are prevalent around our world. And what better way to explore and understand our societies’ cultures and issues than through Star Wars?
On a personal note, Kempshall continues to be a source of inspiration for me as a writer. He writes the types of books I hope to write someday — Star Wars, if you’re reading this, let me write a Corwi Selgrothe book 🫶
And with the success of Rise and Fall and Star Pilots (it’s a new release, but I know readers will love it), I’m confident that Star Wars publishing sees the value in, and reader desire for, more in-universe stories.
Oh, and if you’re a fan of Top Gun and the X-Wing books and comics, you’ll love Star Pilots.
October 10, 2026
While I understand what the author was attempting with this book, it just did not land with me (no pun intended). Because of the subject matter, and format chosen, some of the topics ended up being repeated multiple times throughout the book which made it feel like it dragged.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews